Envelop moistener and sealer.



PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

I. J. FROEHLEY.

' ENVELOP MOISTENER AND SEALER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.1B.1905.

Inventor,

Witnesse I Attorneys.

TlNTTE STATES FRANK J. FROEHLEY, OF ANGOLA, NEW YORK.

ENVELOP MOISTENER A ND SEALER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed April 18, 1905. Serial No.- 256,3S1.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. FRoEHLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Angola, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Envelop Moistener and Sealer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to envelop moisteners and sealers.

The object of the invention is to provide an implement of the class described which will in a rapid and expeditious manner moisten envelop-flaps, postage-stamps, labels, or the like and efiect the juncture or sealing of such articles or parts to the object to which they are to be combined.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of an envelop moistener and sealer, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective exhibiting the manner in which the implement is employed in moistening a series of envelopflaps. Fig. 2isaviewin vertical longitudinal section through the implement. Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the eye thereon. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the eye thereon.

The implement embodies in its construction a frame designated generally 1, a pair ofrollerpads 2 and 3 combined for rotation therewith,

and a reservoir 4 connected with the frame and housing suitable valve mechanism for controlling the supply of water to one of the roller-pads.

The frame will preferably be struck up from thin resilient material, such as sheet-brass,and is formed on each side with two extensions 5, having alined orifices to receive the shafts 6 of the roller-pads. Each of the extensions is provided onits under side with a projection 7,

the series of projections forming legs that operate normally to hold the roller-pads above the surface upon which the implement may be resting. In order to prevent marring or scratching of the table or other article upon which the implement is placed when not in use, the legs 7 are incased in a suitable protecting material, in this instance a covering of cloth or fabric 8, which is held in position upon the legs by elastic bands 9. The extensions 5 are resilient, as stated, and may be flexed laterally to permit the roller-pads to be removed when necessary. Each pad consists of a core 10, preferably of wood, the periphery of which is incased by one or more plies of absorbent material 11, which may be cloth or tubular lamp-wick. The head or top 12 of the frame-forms a support for the reservoir 4 and is provided with a central orifice,through which extends the exteriorly-threaded shank 13 of a valve-guide 14, the shank and guide being provided throughouta portion of their length with a duct 15, communicating with which at its upper end is a water-inlet orifice 16 and at its lower end a water-outlet orifice 17. The shank is held combined with the head of the frame by a nut 18, which is threaded upon the shank and bears against the under side of the head. Mounted upon the shank below the nut 18 is a water-feed tube 19, the outer end of which is curved downward and is disposed in this instance over the rollerpad 2 and the other end of which is provided with a collar 20, that fits upon the shank and is clamped in position thereon by a nut 21, which serves also to clamp the collar against the nut 18, and thus effect a water-tight juncture. The bore of the feed-tube 19 is disposed in approximate alinement with the water-outlet orifice 17 of the valve-guide, so that water entering the duct 15 will escape through the tube and into the roller-pad 2. In order to effect a water-tight juncture between the valve-guide and the bottom of the tank, there is provided a gasket 22, which is clamped between the'under side of the valve-guide and the upper side of the tank-bottom, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The valve-guide is herein shown as truncated-cone-shaped and is provided in its upper portion with a threaded orifice to receive the lower threaded end of a valve-stem 23, the said end terminating in a needle-valve 24, designed to engage an appropriately-shaped seat 25, arranged below the water-inlet 16. The upper end of the stem is reduced circumferentially and is made polygonal in cross-section, as shown at 26 in Fig. 4:, and the terminal of this polygonal portion is rounded and tapered, as at 27 The polygonal portion of the stem is engaged by a key 28, slidably mounted in a neck 29, formed on a cap or cover 30, which is connected with the tank in this instance by being threaded thereto, al-

though, if preferred, the juncture between the parts may be secured by friction, and as this will be readily understood illustration of such obvious modification is omitted.

The bore 31 of the key, in which are housed both the polygonal portion 26 and the tapered portion 27 of the stem, communicates with a constricted orifice 32, which forms an air vent for supplying air to the interior of the tank to insure proper discharge of the water therein. In order to eflect an air and water tight juncture between the key and the cap, there is a gasket 33 employed, which extends upward into the neck, as shown at 34, and engages frictionally with the key with sufiicient resistance to prevent escape of water and preclude entrance of air. The key is provided with a lateral orifice 35, through which air admitted through the vent 32 will escape to the interior of the tank. When the key is in the position shown-in Fig. 2, the supply of air will be cut off from the reservoir; but when moved downward until the orifice 35 is free of the gasket 34 air will then be supplied to the reservoir. To limit the outward movement of the key, there is a stop 36 provided, and to limit its downward movement the key is provided with a knurled or roughened head 37. The object of providing the reduced portion 27 of the stem above the polygonal portion 26 is to cause the key always to remain in engagement with the stem even when drawn upward and to the limit of its movement and to facilitate the connection ofthe key with the stem when the cap is secured in place.

IV hen the device is not in use, the needlevalve is in engagement with the seat 25,thereby cutting off supply of water to the feed-tube;

but when the implement is to be used the key is turned in the appropriate direction to move the valve out of engagement with the seat, and upon air being admitted to the reservoir in the manner described the water contained therein will feed down the tube 19 and onto the roller-pad. In order to insure proper and thorough distribution of the water thereover, the roller is turned and the surface thereof is rubbed until the entire operative face of the pad is equally moistened. The valve is then closed to cut off further supply of water. The implement is then grasped by the handle, as shown in Fig. 1, and the pad 2 is passed over the envelop-flaps, stamps, or other objects to be moistened, and when this latter procedure is completed the implement is reversed and the pad 3 is used for pressing the stamp or the like upon the surface to which it is to be secured.

The implement herein described, while exceedingly simple of construction, will be found thoroughly efficient in use for the purposes designed, and owing to the manner in which the parts are constructed and arranged dange-r of breakage in use is reduced to a minimum and in case of breakage repairs may readily and cheaply be effected.

To avoid the necessity of using a wrench in removing the nut 21 whenever it is necessary to remove the water-feed tube 19 for cleansing or other purposes, the nut 21 may be an ordinary thumbnut, which can be removed easily by the fingers alone.

Furthermore, by the manner in which the parts are assembled any element may readily be detached should it be necessary, as where a part becomes clogged, thus to permit cleansing to keep the implement in the best possible condition for use.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is- 1. An implement of the class described, embodying a reservoir, a valve-guide arranged in the lower portion thereof and provided with water-inlet and water-outlet orifices, a valve coacting with the water-inlet orifice, a feedtube combined with the valve-guide and 00-- acting with the water-outlet orifice, and a pair of roller-pads one of which is disposed in the path of discharge of the feed-tube.

2. An implement of theclass described, embodying a reservoir, a valve-guide arranged in the lower portion thereof and provided with water-inlet and water-outlet orifices and with a valve-seat arranged adjacent to the inletorifice, a valve-stem having a threaded connection with the guide and provided with a valve coacting with the seat, means for rotating the stem and for controlling the supply of air to the reservoir, a feed-tube coacting with the water-outlet opening, and a pair of roller-pads one of which is disposed in the path of discharge of the tube.

3. An implement of the class described, comprising a reservoir, a cap detachably'connected therewith and provided with an air-vent, a key projecting through the cap and having a longitudinal orifice coacting with the air-vent to constitute an air-intake, a valve-guide combined with the lower portion of the reservoir and having a valve-seat and water-inlet and water-outlet openings, a valve-stem having its upper portion in engagement with the key and its lower portion threaded into the valveguide and having a valve coacting with the seat, a pair of roller-pads combined with the reservoir, and a feed-tube having its discharge end disposed over one of the pads and coacting with the water-outlet opening.

4. In an implement of the class described, the combination with a frame provided with resilient members, and roller-pads jo urnaled between the members, of a reservoir disposed upon the frame, a valve-guide having a threaded shank projecting through the frame and provided with water-inlet and water-outlet openings, means engaging the shank for clamping the frame and reservoir together, a feed-tube having a collar mounted on the shank and provided with a bore coacting with the water-ou tlet opening, means for clamping the collar in position upon the shank, the outer end of the feed-tube being disposed over one of the pads, a valve for controlling the passage of Water through the water-inlet opening, and means for actuating the valve.

5. In an implement of the class described, the combination'with a reservoir, of a valveguide having water inlet and outlet openings, a valve-stem having a threaded connection with the guide, a longitudinally-movable key adapted to actuate the stem to control the passage of water from the reservoir, and a pair of roller-pads carried by the implement.

6. An implement of the class described, comprising a reservoir, a valve for controlling the escape of water therefrom, a member having a sliding and rotary movement combined with the reservoir for actuating the valve and for regulating the supply of air to the reservoir, and a pair of roller-pads carried by the implement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. FROEHLEY.

Witnesses:

FRANK SWEETLAND, J. H. SOHLENDER. 

